Andrei Markov will spend the next couple of seasons playing in his homeland.

The former Montreal Canadiens defenseman signed a two-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL, the league announced Monday.

Markov revealed his intention to play in the KHL last Thursday, but the length of his stay in Russia wasn't clear at the time.

The Canadiens announced they were parting ways with the 38-year-old earlier that day.

Markov spent 16 seasons in a Canadiens uniform and insisted last week that he wanted to finish his career in Montreal.

He leaves the Canadiens having tied Guy Lapointe for second on the franchise points list among defensemen (572) and ranks second all time among Montreal blue-liners with 990 games played.

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